Mercer County Schools

Happy Thanksgiving!

📣 ReachOut Is Here for You — Even During the Holiday Break! 💙 As we head into the holiday next week, we want to remind our students and families that ReachOut is available 24/7 — day or night, even when school is closed. If you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, lonely, or just need someone to talk to, ReachOut is always just a message away. You’re never alone. Help is here whenever you need it. Please share this reminder, and encourage your child to save the contact options in their phone. 💛 You matter. Your feelings matter. We’re here for you — anytime.

Mercer County leaders came together at the Granada yesterday for Live2Lead professional development! We had a strong turnout of leaders from across our community — including our public schools, local businesses, and support organizations. Superintendent Edward Toman also presented an inspiring session on leadership, adding valuable insight to an already powerful event. Thank you to everyone who participated and continues to invest in strong leadership for Mercer County!

Our former student & teacher Argonauts visited Glenwood, Bluefield Middle & Montcalm High to spark interest in the JASON Learning Argonaut program! Students heard about past expeditions to Boston, Houston & Portland. The next destination is unknown—applications open soon!

Principals Dr. Lacosta Hodges and Kelli Stanley and teachers Jessica Reed and Jenna Prudich were honored to attend sessions facilitated by Dr. Anita Archer, a leading expert and one of the foundational researchers behind Explicit Instruction. Dr. Archer’s work has shaped evidence-based teaching practices across the nation, and we are grateful for the opportunity to learn from her directly. Her guidance continues to strengthen our commitment to high-quality instruction for every student in Mercer County. 💙 Thank you, Dr. Archer, for sharing your knowledge and passion with our team! #MercerCountySchools #ExplicitInstruction #ProfessionalLearning #AnitaArcher #GrowingTogether

For National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, Mercer County Schools partnered with Joanne Stafford from WVU Extension to bring a special Dollar General Healthy Eating class to our MCTEC culinary students. With transportation to grocery stores often a barrier for many families, learning creative, practical ways to prepare healthy meals using accessible ingredients is essential. Students took part in a hands-on cooking demonstration featuring healthy, budget-friendly recipes and learned about nutrition, food safety, and smart grocery shopping. They also received recipe handouts to try at home. 🍽️ We’re grateful for this partnership and the opportunity to equip our students with real-world skills that support healthy living and informed choices. #NationalHungerAndHomelessnessAwarenessWeek #SeeCareShare #HealthyEating #WVUExtension #MCTEC #MercerCountyPublicSchools #ICARE #McKinneyVento

As part of National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, our Grow Your Own students participated in an interactive lesson led by our ICARE Facilitator, Alysha Crawford. Students learned about the signs and challenges faced by children and youth experiencing homelessness and discussed practical ways they can support their future students with compassion and understanding. 💜 We were also joined by Candace Harless from the Mercer County Coalition for Healthy Communities, who spoke about stigma, the importance of awareness, and how small acts of care can make a meaningful difference. We’re proud of these future educators and grateful for the partnerships that help us prepare them to See the need, Share support, and Care for every student. #NationalHungerAndHomelessnessAwarenessWeek #SeeCareShare #GrowYourOwn #FutureEducators #MercerCountyPublicSchools #ICARE #McKinneyVento

Bus 635, which is a special needs bus, is running very late and waiting on a mechanic. It is best if parents can transport their students to school. This affects PMS SILVER SPRINGS STRALEY MERCER PSHS Princeton Primary Glenwood PVHS

Today’s Mercer County Schools Steering Committee Meeting was hosted at Conn-Weld, where members had the opportunity to tour the impressive facility with Community Outreach Coordinator Lisa James.

Representing Mercer County Schools were Community Connections Coordinator Jennifer Collis, Data & Information Specialist Amy Harrison, and MCTEC Assistant Principal Freddy Simon joined by local business partners including Jamie Hall (MCOI), Sherri Ingram (City National Bank), Terene Stiltner (Bluefield State University), Vartika Jain (Concord University), and Brian McCoy (Ramey).

We are grateful for the ongoing support of our business community. Their partnership—through school events, job-shadowing, internships, and real-world learning opportunities—helps prepare our students for bright futures right here in Mercer County. 💛🖤

#MercerCountySchools #CommunityPartners #StrongerTogether #MCSCounts #CareerReadyKids

Bus 602 (formerly 632), which is a special needs bus, is running 30 minutes late this morning, Wednesday, November 19th. This affects Mountain Valley, Bluefield Primary, Bluefield Intermediate, Bluefield Middle and Bluefield High.

Bus 682 is running about 10 minutes behind this morning, Wednesday, November 19th. This affects Spanishburg, PikeView Middle and PikeView High.

Bus 680, which is a special needs bus, is running about 30 minutes behind this morning, Wednesday, November 19th. This affects Mountain Valley, Bluefield Primary, Bluefield Intermediate, Bluefield Middle and Bluefield High.

Today, our former student and teacher Argonauts inspired the next generation at Princeton Middle and PikeView Middle!

Savannah Mongeni, Blake Blankenship, Eva Coleman, Finn Caudill, and Miles Munique shared highlights from their unforgettable JASON Learning expeditions to Boston, Houston, and Portland—from hands-on STEM challenges to meeting real scientists, engineers, and innovators.

Teacher Argonauts Jennifer McClanahan and Laiken Lucas encouraged educators to apply as well, reminding everyone that the Argonaut program isn’t just a trip—it’s a life-changing learning experience.

The JASON Learning Argonaut program is perfect for students who are curious about STEM, eager to explore, and ready for an adventure they’ll never forget.
We don’t yet know where the next expedition will go…but the application window opens within the next two months, and we can’t wait to see who steps up!

#JASONLearning #Argonauts #STEM #MercerCountySchools #FutureExplorers

Dr. Kristal Filipek and the Mercer County Schools Human Resources team are hosting a Job Fair today at the Mercer County Schools Warehouse! If you’ve ever considered joining our MCS family, stop by to learn more about open positions, meet our HR staff, and explore opportunities across the district.

Let’s make this week count!

Showing up—every day—helps students stay connected, confident, and on track for success. When we Strive for Five, we build strong habits that last a lifetime.

📅 Goal: Be in school all 5 days this week

💬 Why it matters:

✔ Better grades

✔ Stronger routines

✔ More support from teachers

✔ Fewer make-ups and less stress

✔ A sense of belonging and momentum

Everyday matters. Every student matters.

Let’s show up, lift each other up, and make this a great week in Mercer County Schools! 💙🤍

#StriveForFive #AttendanceMatters #MercerCountySchools #ShowUpForSuccess

Mercer County’s The Network: For Energizing Educators 💛The Network mentees and mentors met this week and gained valuable information for both new and experienced teachers alike! 💡Sessions included AI in the classroom, IReady, Math Strategies, Differentiation, and round table time for questions. 🌟Throughout the month, mentors and mentees will meet and debrief successes in the classroom, reflect on areas of growth, and discuss how the previous sessions have been helpful. #LoveMyWVSchool

Ninth grade students at PSHS received Desmos training today from Zandra Webb of Texas! GEAR UP SWV is bringing this hands-on math support to all high schools in Mercer County, helping students strengthen their skills and confidence.

#GEARUPSWV #GEARUPWorks

See, Share, Care💜

This week, November 16-22, is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week! We are proud that our schools throughout Mercer County are participating in various activities to educate our students and community.
A huge thank you to the incredibly talented MCTEC Graphic Design students! They generously lent their skills to create a powerful and moving campaign to help us raise awareness for this important issue. The images you see accompanying this post are all their original work!

Let's recognize their commitment to making a difference and continue to support our most vulnerable neighbors. Stay tuned throughout the week for more highlights and updates on the activities happening across our schools!

#HungerAndHomelessnessAwareness #MCTEC #MercerCountyPublicSchools #MakingADifference #SeeShareCare

Today, our team – Director of Special Education Emily Huddle, Assistant Superintendent Rosemary Mitchell, Special Education Supervisor Jennifer Perdue, and PSHS staff Derek Belcher, Chris Presley and Laura Presley – are attending the STRIVE initiative training in Lewisburg!

STRIVE is an initiative to strengthen behavior response through targeted assistance — promoting regular attendance, increasing achievement, validating practices, and empowering support teams.
We’re excited to bring what we learn back to our district to support our students and staff!

Yesterday, some of our administrators and student support staff had the privilege of attending a powerful workshop at Tamarack, hosted by the West Virginia Department of Education and presented by Dr. Ruby K. Payne.
The session centered on her book 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 and offered valuable insight into how we can better support students facing the challenges of poverty and instability.
Our team walked away with practical tools and strategies to help engage, stabilize, and uplift students so they can focus on learning and reach their fullest potential.
At Mercer County Public Schools, we remain committed to ensuring every student feels seen, supported, and empowered. Today reinforced that mission.
#MercerCountyPublicSchools #StudentSupport #RubyKPayne #WVDE #McKinneyVento
#StabilitySupportsSuccess